The regeneration of neurites to recover the audition
The regeneration of neurites to recover the audition
"A B S T R AC T
The UCM (Spain) offers a method to regenerate neurites from
explants of the spiral ganglion. This neuronal regeneration is
independent of the age of the animal, since the growth of
neurites is observed from newborn, young, adult and aged
spiral ganglia.
For this method to be applicable to sensorineural deafness or
hipoacusic patient, further research is required to develop a
new biopharmacological product, and a new hearing
bioprosthesis, that allows for the liberation of the growth
factors involved in regeneration and survival of spiral
ganglion neurons in vivo.
| DESCRIPTION AND SPECIAL FEATURES|
In the developed societies, the number of hipoacusic patients is
increasing dramatically due to environmental and life style factors.
Presbycusis is the second cause of pathology affecting the aged
population, behind presbytia.
The development of this method has achieved the standardization
and simplification of the in vitro conditions necessary for neuronal
regeneration in the auditory system. Two main requirements are
considered investigated in order to apply this method in vivo:
· The substrate in which the explant is due to adhere.
· The conditioned culture medium (specific growth factors and
specific components).
The adhesion of the neurons to the substrate is fundamental for the
regeneration of neurites, especially in neurons from adult and aging
animals. The substrate is composed by fibronectin, collagen, laminin
and poli-L-lysin. These four components are present in neuropilo of
the spiral ganglion, in vivo conditions. The polymerization of these
substrates is achieved in two processes:
1. The polymerization of fibronectin, collagen, laminin substrates
carried out in cold conditions.
2. The polymerization of poli-L-lysin icarried out at room
temperature or 37ºC.
The second fundamental characteristic is the culture medium used
for the regeneration of neurites in vitro. The medium is composed of
nutritional components and neurotrophic factors. The specific
concentration of these compounds grants the permeability and the
diffusion through the plasmatic membrane, without being toxic to
the neurons. These nutrients, which contribute to the nutritional
and energetic needs, together with the use of neurotrophic factors
within the neuron, enable the regeneration of neurites from already
adult and aged neurons.
The new product can be applied to patients with different types of
neurosensorial hearing loss. The use of this new product does not
produce any organic injury to the cochlea. The regeneration of
neurites from spiral ganglia allow to the patient not only recovers
the biological structure (neurons) of this complex sensory function,
he also perceives all the intensities and frequencies audible to the
human ear.
| INNOVATIVE ASPECTS|
The great innovative aspect of the regeneration of neurites form
spiral ganglion neurons in relation to current auditory prosthesis is
that the hipoacusic patient neurons are responsible of transmitting
the sound messenger in all cochlear frequencies and intensities to
central auditory system. Whereas the actual technology only feature
a limited representation of cochlear frequencies and intensities.
Actually, the hipoacusic patient thus forcing to adapt to a “new
hearing form”.
| COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES|
This methodology can have a great solution for the hipoacusic
patient, since the cochlea is not destroyed for the implantation, and
allow a replacement possibility in case of deterioration or non
viability. Moreover this methodology is advisable for certain auditory
pathologies, specifically when the cochlear implant is not
effectiveness (i e. presbycusis patients).
| TYPE OF COLLABORATION SOUGHT|
• Technical cooperation.
• License agreement.
Comments
The application of this method requires the collaboration of two
different types of companies in two different stages:
1. The collaboration with biotechnology, biopharmacology and/or
biomedicine companies will allow to profile the end product
(compendium of the different products used) that must be
administered to the patient.
2. The collaboration with companies interested in the production of
enhanced prosthesis technology, adapted for the diffusion of the
product within the cochlea.
The companies potentially interested are:
1. Companies related to hearing improvement systems,
currently investigating new auditory prosthesis for hipoacusic
patients.
2. Companies dedicated to the biopharmaceutical or biotechnology
fields.
3. Companies producing micro or nanotechnology to design a new
product to introduce and spread the cocktail of growth factors
within the internal ear.
The collaborating company must facilitate the recruitment of highly
qualified technical personnel.
| CURRENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY|
• Development phase.
| CURRENT STAT E O F I N T E L L E C T UAL PROPERT Y|
• Patent applied.
Comments
Patent applied in July 2007.
| FINANCIAL SOURCE OF THE TECHNOLOGY|
• National project.
• Regional project.
UCM_13
C O N TA C T P E R S O N : Mayte Ripio
O R G A N I Z AT I O N : OTRI-UCM
P H O N E : +34 91 394 63 74 F A X : +34 91 394 63 82 E - M A I L :
ripio@rect.ucm.es"
source:
http://www.madrimasd.org/informacio...cumentos/biomedicina/Catalogo_biomedicina.pdf